Published: Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 12:58 PM.

Lt. Col. Michael S. Hesse will assume command of the 605th Test and Evaluation Squadron during a change of command ceremony May 9 at Hurlburt Field.

As commander, he will lead the 140-member unit which is responsible for the operational test and evaluation of all command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems including Airborne Warning and Control System, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, Air Operations Center, Control and Reporting Center, Tactical Air Control Party, Air Defense Sector, Distributed Common Ground System and other systems on behalf of the United States Air Warfare Center in support of joint warfighters.

Hesse is currently the squadron’s director of operations and has overseen the execution of over one hundred test events that work to improve our tactical warfighter’s combat capabilities. The 605th TES evaluates the suitability and effectiveness of programs such as the Air Operations Center Weapons System, the National Capitol Region’s Integrated Air Defense System, and Distributed Common Ground System — the Air Force’s premier globally networked intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapon system.

Hesse replaces Lt. Col. Ray Zuniga who has been selected for assignment to Headquarters Air Force located at the Pentagon.

The 605th TES is located at Hurlburt Field. with Detachment 1 at Seattle, Wash.; Detachment 2 at Melbourne; and operating locations at Nellis AFB, Nev.; Langley AFB, Va.; and Fort Dodge, Iowa.

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Lt. Col. Michael S. Hesse will assume command of the 605th Test and Evaluation Squadron during a change of command ceremony May 9 at Hurlburt Field.

As commander, he will lead the 140-member unit which is responsible for the operational test and evaluation of all command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems including Airborne Warning and Control System, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, Air Operations Center, Control and Reporting Center, Tactical Air Control Party, Air Defense Sector, Distributed Common Ground System and other systems on behalf of the United States Air Warfare Center in support of joint warfighters.

Hesse is currently the squadron’s director of operations and has overseen the execution of over one hundred test events that work to improve our tactical warfighter’s combat capabilities. The 605th TES evaluates the suitability and effectiveness of programs such as the Air Operations Center Weapons System, the National Capitol Region’s Integrated Air Defense System, and Distributed Common Ground System — the Air Force’s premier globally networked intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapon system.

Hesse replaces Lt. Col. Ray Zuniga who has been selected for assignment to Headquarters Air Force located at the Pentagon.

The 605th TES is located at Hurlburt Field. with Detachment 1 at Seattle, Wash.; Detachment 2 at Melbourne; and operating locations at Nellis AFB, Nev.; Langley AFB, Va.; and Fort Dodge, Iowa.